Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets return nationwide on April 24 after a December sell-out. With bold new plans and sauce collabs, crispy chicken is here to stay.

In a press release, Taco Bell announced that the Crispy Chicken Nuggets are making a comeback on April 24, after selling out nationwide in December 2024 in less than a week. This time, they’re bringing bigger plans with them. Followed by a menu pipeline of chicken-led innovation, the nuggets’ return is the start of Taco Bell’s journey to become a go-to destination for crispy chicken with a permanent mainstay by 2026.

“We’re a taco place doing chicken our own way and like all our best moments, it’s a little unexpected – because we’ve never been about following the rules,” said Taco Bell’s chief marketing officer, Taylor Montgomery. “The demand for our nuggets was off the charts, which is why we’re looking at making crispy chicken permanent to give our fans what they are telling us they want. We know we’re not the usual name in crispy chicken, but our nuggets speak for themselves — they’re bold, different, and unmistakably Taco Bell.”

Crispy Chicken Dominance is Just Heating Up According to Taco Bell

After testing more than 50+ recipes and flavor combinations, Taco Bell perfected the crispy tortilla-chip breaded coating that’s set to join menus permanently in 2026. With new forms and sauce pairings in the works all year long, fans can expect even more craveable drops ahead, including a sweet and spicy collab with Mike’s Hot Honey®, coming later this year. As 95% of innovations from the Taco Bell test kitchen feature chicken as the premier protein, Taco Bell’s chicken dominance is becoming undeniable. From the Cantina Chicken Menu to tests like Chicken Al Pastor Street Chalupas, everyone’s favorite taco place is suddenly becoming everyone’s favorite chicken place.

Fueled by Cravings, Powered by Fans

According to Taco Bell, Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets have already earned global acclaim as a top-selling menu item, and the nationwide US debut proved to be just as iconic. During the initial run, roughly 5 million Americans turned to Taco Bell to satisfy their crispy chicken cravings. The response was overwhelming—almost 1 in 6 orders included Crispy Chicken Nuggets, leading to a nationwide sell-out in under a week. The message received was that a taco joint can do chicken, too.

From day one, fans clarified that the Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets were a “delish” smash hit. As many fans were left without the savory tortilla-chip coated goodness, the cultural obsession grew as those desperate for nuggets demanded (even dreamt of) a comeback. That dream became reality at Live Más LIVE, where Taco Bell surprised superfans with the big reveal: Crispy Chicken Nuggets are making their return. And this is just the beginning—a bold new crispy chicken era is on the horizon.

Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets: Dip, Dunk, Devour

Fans know these aren’t the run of the mill nuggets. They’re built to defy expectations with every bite. Made with tender all-white meat chicken, Taco Bell’s Crispy Chicken Nuggets are marinated in a zesty jalapeño buttermilk flavor, breaded with a blend of breadcrumbs and crispy tortilla chips. First introduced as a bold remix on a comfort classic, they became a sell-out sensation, delivering unmatched flavor and texture with a crisp so mouthwatering, it’s confusingly good that they’re from Taco Bell.

Fans have a handful of ways to enjoy their nugget experience. Prices may vary in certain regions.

• Crispy Chicken Nuggets a la carte: 
  • 5-piece nugget + 1 dipping sauce: $3.99
  • 10-piece nugget + 2 dipping sauces: $6.99
• Crispy Chicken Nuggets Combo: Complete your meal with an order of regular Nacho Fries, nacho cheese sauce, and a large fountain drink.
  • 5-piece nugget combo + 1 dipping sauce: $5.99
  • 10-piece nugget combo + 2 dipping sauces: $8.99

Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets

Nuggets need the perfect sauce pairing, and fans made their favorite loud and clear. Hidden Valley Fire Ranch Sauce is back by popular demand after becoming the top-selected sauce for crispy chicken orders during the first run. It leads the returning trio from last year’s introduction alongside the tangy Bell Sauce and bold Jalapeño Honey Mustard, offering a crave-worthy lineup to elevate every dunk.

After dipping and dunking in their sauce of choice, fans can mail in their used, empty dipping cups throughout the month of April to earn 80 bonus Taco Bell Rewards points. Thanks to Taco Bell’s Sauce Container US Recycling Program partnership with TerraCycle, hundreds of thousands of used sauce packets and single-use sauce containers have been collected.

Keep an eye on social and LinkedIn to see how the crispy chicken craze comes to life. For Orlando area theme park fans, there are plenty of Taco Bell locations near Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World to try the Taco Bell Crispy Chicken Nuggets. You can check out more stories at our site, MSM News As always, eat like you mean it!

Expertise. Ease. Value.

Ready for your bucket list trip? Our trusted partner, MEI-Travel, will handle the planning so you can focus on the memories. They offer free vacation planning services and have nearly 20 years of experience creating memorable vacations. 

Contact for a fee-free, no-obligation quote today.